Interesting thread because over in the AVS forum no one is talking about the QUALITY of audio when using HDMI ver 1.3a as the input source. All I'm reading over there is that if a receiver/pre-amp has hdmi ver 1.4a then you are good to go!

Hummmmm....I'll cross post over there and see what reaction I get.

Marcus

I'd still be quite interested to know if the new Outlaw pre/pro's will include an Audyssey or similar room equalization system. I understand that both Emotiva pre/pro's will include some type of multEQ.

According to posts in the AVS forum, S-N showed a prototype at CES which they claimed would have a chip version of the Trinnov processing system. They claim the processing is superior to Audessey (I know they all say that before the rubber hits the road). People who have seen it say it is awesome. Do a search for Trinnov on AVS. See also

http://www.trinnov.com/

If this is true and comes to pass in Outlaw clothing it will be spectacular. In any case it's what I'm waiting for. In the meanwhile I am using analog inputs for HD sound and a Radiient HDMI switcher. Driven by a Harmony remote it all works great.

Found a pic of Sheerwoods new flagship. I have not been able to find anything on a preamp. Maybe Outlaw will get rid of those pesky binding posts and ad XLRs Looks like it has built in Wifi too

http://www.sherwood-mba.de/images/R972%20rear%20panel.jpg

http://www.sherwood-mba.de/popup_image.php/pID/46?osCsid=3534013da8e591d7501ada3aaa5d01ff

Speakers 6 ohm minimum and no phono - two dealbreakers for me.

One HDMI out would be a deal breaker for me.

Would be nice if there was more than one hdmi out, so that three or four inputs could be independently assigned (should one wish to do so). This would constitute a 4x2 or 3 x 2 matrix.

I doubt we'll see it. GEFEN makes a 4 x 2 whose cost is prohibitive. The one I tried (can't remember the name) didn't work. returned it and got a replacement. That one didn't either. So I doubt we'll see output assignment switching....oh darn.

There are some products out there with multiple HDMI outputs that have a wrinkle: only one is active at a time. This avoids the need for an HDMI splitter (something that is not simple to do because of HDCP handshake issues), but it requires you to manually toggle between the two when changing from front projector to a smaller display (plasma, LCD, front projector, etc).